Improvement in letter-boxes



fiwez/ed p.223 75601 W iw MW x m UNITED STATES W. H. BRAMBLE, OF

PATENT QEEICE.

DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-BOXES.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,562, dated April 3, 1866; antedated March 30, 1866.

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, W. H. BRAnBLE, of Decatur, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Letter-Boxes; and I hereby declare that the following is a true and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents an end elevation of my box with the sash and light inclosed. .Fig. 2 gives an end elevation of the sash. Fig. 8 presents a side view of the letter-plattorn'i and the metal plate attached to it.

The letter A, Fig. 1, represents the platform upon which the letters are laid before delivery. The platform A is bent down at its two edges, so as to form the flanges B. These flanges extend from within half an inch of the front end of A to near two-thirds of the length of A, and are there perforated to receive the transverse rod 0, the rod 6 answering as a pivot, on which the platform A can be raised or lowered, as the case may be.

d represents a metal plate, the inner end of which is firmly secured to rod 6 and bent down a little below the flanges on A, and then bent parallel with and a little beyond the inner end of platform A. The plate 61, at its inner end, is firmly soldered to the vertical tail-piece f, which is secured to the end of the letter-box by two tacks, the heads of which press against the edges of the tailpiece. The platform A, when completed in all its parts, is pushedinto the letter-box P from the inner side. In the front end of the letter-box P is placed the sash E, with the light F, formed of glass or other transparent substance. The light F, when in position, occupies an oblique position, leaning inward at top about three-quarters of an inch, and is hinged there by means of the rod n, the ends of the rod passing through the sides of the letter-box. By this rod the light F can be raised or lowered at pleasure.

It will be observed that when the platform A is in a horizontal position the hollow projection tat the outer end of A will be held by the hooked latch s, placed on the lower part of sash E; but the moment the operator strikes with a slight blow the inner end of platform A the outer end will disengage itself from the latch s, and, striking on the oblique edges of the plates H, will ascend to the notch and there be supported. At this moment the person on the outside will raise the light F sufficiently high to abstract the letters, and the platform A will return to its horizontal position. The moment the light F is released it will fall back and catch, as before described, which prevents its being opened. on the outside.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The use of hinged or adjustable doors or lights for post-off1ce boxes, when said doors or lights are operated from the inside of the office or box, for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of letters, as herein specified.

W. H. BRAMBLE.

Witnesses:

EDM. F. BROWN, 0. M. ALEXANDER. 

